City contracts for engineering fixes

Carson City’s Board of Supervisors approved a contract with Carollo Engineers on Thursday for almost $3 million to cover engineering services on sewage-treatment-plant upgrades.

The pact calling for design work on plant improvements runs through the end of next year and amounts to $2,996,000. The financing will come from the wastewater capital projects/services account in the city’s wastewater fund. The city is issuing bonds next year to do the upgrades. The indebtedness will be serviced by sewage-rate hikes adopted this year.

On another Public Works Department request, the board authorized purchase a city street sweeper at a cost to the city of $164,753. The actual cost is more than $75,000 higher, but a grant form the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection will lower the price. The exact amount of the grant is $75,442.

Board members approved a third Public Works purchase, for $113,914 to obtain a couple of 1-ton vehicles for various purposes, among them plowing snow.

Board members, both as the Redevelopment Authority and the board, authorized $159,273 for upgrades at Fuji Park and Fairgrounds in advance of the Sesquicentennial Fair planned for the summer.

The board also gave final approval to an ordinance amending the city code regarding allocation of any fines gleaned from violations of marijuana laws by people who possess it without having a medical privilege card.

It requires the fine money be evenly allocated in a manner determined in court among nonprofit substance-abuse programs, rehabilitation treatment established by a court, or local law enforcement.

The Board of Health, which consists of Dr. Susan Pintar, Sheriff Ken Furlong and members of the city governing board, heard reports from city Health and Human Services staffers.

Among them was Veronica Gallas, clinical services manager, who said the federal Affordable Care Act may require some local HHS clinical services fee structures and result in declining grants as it continues rolling out nationally.

The health board also heard a report on changes under way at the city animal shelter. During the discussion, questions were raised about why the city needs a shelter. Deputy City Manager Marena Works said the city must run an animal-control program, so it has to have a place to house the animals. Whether operating it could be contracted out is a separate question, she said.